Amber

The amber ascertained in Poland occurs in Paleogene and Quaternary formations. The biggest accumulations of amber in Paleogene sediments are connected with the northern marginal zone of the Eocene Sea. In the northern zone amber has agglomerated in the sandy-silty sediments with glauconite in the Eridan river delta (the so-called chłapowsko-sambijska delta). The best documented is Chłapowo region where sediments occur on the depth between 60 m and 130 m. In the southern zone of the Eocene Sea the amber-bearing sediments (silts and sands with glauconite) were also formed in the delta zone, the so-called Parczew delta. These sediments occur on the depth between 20 m and 30 m. Górka Lubartowska deposit covers the area of 295.88 ha and the average thickness of sediments is of 12 m. The third amber occurrence in Paleogene sediments is Możdżanowo region near Słupsk in northern Poland. The amber-bearing sediments occur on the depth about 11 m below surface.

Quaternary amber-bearing sediments are occurring mainly in chłapowsko-sambijska delta. Big amber concentrations are also encountered on the Baltic beaches from Kołobrzeg to the eastern border of Poland.

Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2016 have not changed in comparison with 2015 and amounted to 1,138.95 tonnes of amber. There is only one deposit with exploitation concession issued – Przeróbka SL, but there was not output from the deposit carried out in 2016.

According to the information collected by PGI-NRI from Marshals of four voivodeships, there were 38.5 kilograms of amber exploited during geological works in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, 73.506 kilograms in Lubelskie Voivodeship and 1,730 kilograms in Pomorskie Voivodeship. The total amount of amber exploited during searching works in 2016 was equal 1,842.006 kilograms.

Moreover, there were 31 geological works projects approved for searching and exploring of amber deposits in Pomorskie Voivodeship in the area of Gdańsk, Grochów, Izbiska, Jantar, Kobyla Kępa, Łaszka, Możdżanowo, Przejazdowo, Przemysław, Rychnowo Żuławskie, Stegna, Wiślinka i Wierzchucino, whereas 2 projects were accepted in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship in the area of Rarwino and Stawno.

At the same time, according to the data gained from the Customs Control, Tax Inspection and Gambling Control Departament of the Ministry of Finance, 7,484.90 kilograms of amber were confiscate on the Polish borders by the Custome Service in 2016. It was four times more than in 2015. The total amount of amber sold during the auctions organised by the Custome Service amounted to 1,269.13 kilograms in 2016.

The amount of amber collected on the Baltic beaches is estimated at 5-6 tonnes per year.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of amber in Poland.